It's Alive....Austin USGP...In Some People's Minds Anyway | FerrariChat
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It's Alive....Austin USGP...In Some People's Minds Anyway

Discussion in 'F1' started by RP, Jul 15, 2010.

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  1. RP

    RP F1 World Champ

    Feb 9, 2005
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    Tone Def
    #1 RP, Jul 15, 2010
    (from autosport):

    Formula 1 fans and drivers have been promised that the new United States Grand Prix track in Austin will be one of the most challenging and spectacular in the world.

    Tavo Hellmund, the promoter of the Austin event that is scheduled to hold its first race in 2012, has revealed that the circuit will be a break from the norm of modern F1 venues and is set to feature a selection of the very best sequences from other tracks around the world.

    "I would say that, hopefully, people will view it as a throwback to some of the older, traditional tracks - although obviously with the added safety features and requirements that the FIA has," Hellmund told AUTOSPORT during a visit to the British Grand Prix.

    "It will be a track that the drivers will walk through and think: 'Man, I have to be on my best game today!'"

    Hellmund said that final details of the location of the track will be released imminently, and that the actual layout should be made public in the next few weeks. He said he was excited by what he had seen from the plans, being put together by F1 circuit designer Hermann Tilke.

    "It is going to have a really fast section, which will have some pretty challenging corners," he said. "I am partial to a couple of sections that I've seen at Silverstone, so you could see those turn up too.

    "There is also going to be significant elevation – probably more than 100 feet of difference from top to bottom. There will be pretty views, and I think it will be a bit of a departure from the tracks that have been built recently for F1. So, in that regard, I am excited.

    "Americans will be proud of it – and it won't be a 'cookie cutter' track. I think people in Texas will be proud of it as well."

    Hellmund said one of his priorities was to make sure the drivers liked the venue – because that would help ensure the event became a hit.

    "When you really get down to it, the drivers should be your best endorsement," he said. "They are the ones that talk, and everyone wants to hear what they have to say. So I think between access, mobility, location and then obviously the asphalt within both fences, I think we're going to be good."

    Hellmund also echoed recent comments from Bernie Ecclestone, who said there were no doubts that the funding for the event was in place.

    When asked about the financial situation, Hellmund said: "With all due respect, I think it is interesting – because it is nobody's business what my funding is. I can tell you this – the group we have together is world class.

    "Some of them are well known individuals who will probably never appear publicly – which is for a reason because their privacy and anonymity is part of the deal.

    "But, I can tell you that Mr. Ecclestone would not have embarked on a deal if he was not pleased with the financial package. And the state of Texas would not have done what they have done without that either.

    "And I want to be clear about what Texas have done because there are a lot of misconceptions there. They are not subsidising anything – the state of Texas has basically passed legislation, just like they did for the Superbowl, that allows for the contribution of incremental sales tax revenue that is created by that event. So, some of the liberal media in Texas have been trying to take shots at that, but that [the subsidy claim] is a fabrication.

    "We are excited, because it puts Texas on a platform with the great global events – the Olympics, the Superbowl and the World Cup. They would have not been doing it either if they thought it was a bit wishy-washy."
     
  2. RP

    RP F1 World Champ

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    #2 RP, Jul 15, 2010
    Tilke? Exciting? In the same sentence?
     
  3. BigTex

    BigTex Seven Time F1 World Champ
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    #3 BigTex, Jul 15, 2010
    Money out of Mexico City comes made up like hay bales.....:D :D :D
     
  4. tifosi12

    tifosi12 Four Time F1 World Champ
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    #4 tifosi12, Jul 15, 2010
    Only in Turkey.
     
  5. VIZSLA

    VIZSLA Four Time F1 World Champ
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    #5 VIZSLA, Jul 15, 2010
    Long on atmospherics. (What the track will be like)
    Short on specifics. (My finances are none of your business)
    Not reassuring.
     
  6. Hawkeye

    Hawkeye F1 Veteran
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    Sep 20, 2009
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    #6 Hawkeye, Jul 15, 2010
    +1
     
  7. jj2728

    jj2728 Karting

    Jan 19, 2004
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    Ontario
    #7 jj2728, Jul 15, 2010
    uh huh.....a pipedream is a pipedream.....
     
  8. RP

    RP F1 World Champ

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    #8 RP, Jul 15, 2010
    Yes, but if you have the right stuff in that pipe, it is more than a dream.
     
  9. Ney

    Ney F1 Veteran
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    #9 Ney, Jul 15, 2010
    Only for the guy with the pipe. The rest of us look at it and call bull**** when we see it. The reason Bernie has signed on with this is for the lawsuit and penalties in the contract when it doesn't happen. Bernie laughs and rakes in more money, while the US just gets laughed at again. Thanks USF1.
     
  10. Darkhorse575

    Darkhorse575 Formula Junior

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    #10 Darkhorse575, Jul 15, 2010
    It's a down right hallucination of the 'big hat no cattle' kind.
     
  11. CRG125

    CRG125 F1 Rookie

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    #11 CRG125, Jul 16, 2010
    For F1 to work in United States, they need to bring the race to the people not have the people go to the race. No one knows anything about F1 and there will be a lack of interest if they need drive an hour away to watch an F1 race. They need to have a race in the city.
     
  12. Tifosi15

    Tifosi15 Formula 3

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    #12 Tifosi15, Jul 16, 2010
    That worked out well in Dallas didn't it

    Detroit too
     
  13. BigTex

    BigTex Seven Time F1 World Champ
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    #13 BigTex, Jul 16, 2010
    You forgot Phoenix, and Las Vegas!!!! LOL!
     
  14. Ira Schwartz

    Ira Schwartz Formula 3
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    #14 Ira Schwartz, Jul 16, 2010
    I don't know any details of the TIF fianancing that's apparently a part of this deal, and I'd be as happy as anyone if the US gets a GP, but how is using Tax Increment Financing NOT properly characterized as a public subsidy? Using those eventual tax revenues to plow back into the development costs of the track project does devote public money to offset costs of public improvements/utilities that'll serve a private developer's project. Whether or not TX wants to underwrite these costs is up to them, but what's ranting against "the liberal media" got to do with it? Hell, I'll bet the local TV affiliates and papers are all as liberal as the monied guys who own them. Stick to stuff you understand, cowboy- you're in a little over your head here. Besides, if you're so willing to accept public economic development help, doesn't that make you a "socialist" (yikes!)?
     
  15. CRG125

    CRG125 F1 Rookie

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    #15 CRG125, Jul 16, 2010
    What year did they have an F1 race at those cities?
     
  16. bigwave92107

    bigwave92107 Karting

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    #16 bigwave92107, Jul 16, 2010
  17. CRG125

    CRG125 F1 Rookie

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    #17 CRG125, Jul 16, 2010
  18. tifosi12

    tifosi12 Four Time F1 World Champ
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    #18 tifosi12, Jul 16, 2010
    I disagree.

    It is true that the race needs to be close to a city from a logistics perspective, but that's about it.

    People don't stumble into a F1 race ticket, they buy them because they want to see the race. So any "traffic of the street" is pretty irrelevant, particulary at prices of at least $ 100 (if not more like $ 200+) a pop.

    I don't know how big the F1 fan market is in the US, but I'm sure there are 100k folks willing to go to a race, particularly if the interested folks in the Americas are included as well. We had about 100k at Indy and I see no reason why we wouldn't have 100k in Austin. Indy has racing glory etc, but the track was crap. Austin has no history, but hopefully they'll build a decent track.

    Austin, like Indy is about one airport away from a major hub (Dallas and Chicago respectively). So the situation is probably about equal with a slight advantage for Austin since they have Dallas nearby, which is apart from Miami the central hub to go to South America.

    Granted a F1 race in Orlando, Miami or NY would bring the biggest crowds, but Austin is probably not bad. I have never been to Austin, but from what I've seen it is a modern enough town to have accomodation, food and transportation. And Texans are crazy, so this should be good. :)
     
  19. patricko

    patricko Formula Junior

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    #19 patricko, Jul 16, 2010
    I don't think that is important. Being close to one city in the USA is not going to help much. People will fly in from all over the USA and world.

    A great track is 100x more important to the success of the race.
     
  20. Crawler

    Crawler F1 Veteran

    Jul 2, 2006
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    #20 Crawler, Jul 16, 2010
    I'll go on the record as saying that it won't happen.
     
  21. patricko

    patricko Formula Junior

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    #21 patricko, Jul 16, 2010
    That is the safe bet.

    I wonder what odds the British bookmakers are giving on it?
     
  22. jkddad

    jkddad F1 Rookie
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    #22 jkddad, Jul 16, 2010
    Excellent, doing a little research I believe I've figured out where the track will be located. To the people doing the planning, good job. Now I understand why there is not an extreme concern about some of the items being voiced as show stoppers. Also, concerning a major airport close to Austin, don't forget you have Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, and I believe Austin has a nice airport as well.
     
  23. 1_can_dream

    1_can_dream F1 Veteran

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    #23 1_can_dream, Jul 16, 2010
    The airport in Austin isn't terrible, but isn't part of this deal involving the addition of another airport?
     
  24. Sellnit

    Sellnit Formula Junior

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    #24 Sellnit, Jul 16, 2010
    +2
     
  25. Simon^2

    Simon^2 F1 World Champ

    Oct 17, 2005
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    #25 Simon^2, Jul 16, 2010
    +3

    Should be merged...

    http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=289889
     
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